Omicron: 183 cases in Denmark, 246 in the United Kingdom, at least 25 in France

What you need to know:

– Sunday evening, 42,252 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in France in 24 hours according to data from Public Health France (compared to 51 624 the day before). Over the past seven days, the average of new daily cases is 42,459, compared to less than 28,000 a week ago. The number of hospitalized patients reached 11,526, including 2,066 in critical care.

– Faced with this 5th epidemic wave, a health defense council is meeting on Monday at the Élysée. On the menu in particular, the vaccination of children.

– Ten million French people have received their booster dose of vaccine against Covid-19, announced the Minister of Health Olivier Véran on Saturday evening.

Live:

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8:31 p.m. Nine new cases of Omicron in France

Tonight at 8 p.m., nine new confirmed cases of infection with the Omicron variant were reported in France. France now has 25 confirmed cases of infection with the Omicron variant. "These cases are closely monitored by the health authorities to ensure contact-tracing actions and indicate prevention messages with the aim of preserving the health of the population", indicate the health authorities.

8 p.m. Omicron: first “somewhat encouraging” signals on the severity of the cases

The first “signals” from South Africa regarding the severity of cases linked to the Omicron variant are “a bit encouraging”, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House adviser on the health crisis, on Sunday.

7:18 p.m. More than 42,000 new cases

Public Health France announces 42,252 new cases of Covid in France this Sunday, i.e. 42,459 cases per day on average over the last 7 days. But Sunday is a day when the lifts are more difficult. This number may therefore be underestimated. On Saturday, 51,624 new cases had been detected, a record since April 2021. The official number of Omicron variant cases has not been updated at this time, so there are officially 16 cases in France.

6:31 p.m. More than 130 patients in intensive care in Nord-Pas-de-Calais

6:18 p.m. Hospitalizations still on the rise

This Sunday, 11,526 patients are hospitalized for Covid-19 compared to 11,340 yesterday and 9,381 last Sunday. Among them, 2,066 are in intensive care compared to 2,037 on Saturday evening and 1,632 seven days ago.

5:40 p.m. Ten cases of Covid on a Norwegian Cruise Line liner

Ten cases of Covid-19 have been detected among crew and passengers on a Norwegian Cruise Line liner returning to New Orleans on Sunday with thousands on board, officials said. US health authorities. The Norwegian Breakaway ship “departed New Orleans on November 28 and stopped in Belize, Honduras and Mexico on its journey,” the Louisiana Department of Health said on Twitter on Saturday, adding that “there are more than 3,200 people on board”. The health department added that everyone on board should undergo a Covid test before disembarking.

4:19 p.m. UK 'too late' to stop Omicron's progress

The United Kingdom, one of the most bereaved countries in Europe with more than 145,500 deaths since the start of the Covid-19 epidemic, reported 246 positive cases for the Omicron variant on Sunday, against 160 the day before. Epidemiologist Mark Woolhouse, member of a group of experts advising the government, believes on the BBC that it is "too late" to stop the progress of Omicron, which is already spreading "fairly quickly" in the country. “If Omicron is in the UK, and it is, if there is community transmission in the UK, and it looks like there is, then it is that community transmission that will fuel the next wave,” he said.

2:48 p.m. Denmark: "worrying" jump to 183 confirmed cases of Omicron variant

The number of confirmed cases of the new Omicron variant of the virus responsible for Covid-19 jumped to 183 on Sunday in Denmark, health authorities announced, calling the development “worrying”. As of Friday's tally, Denmark had just 18 confirmed cases and 42 suspected cases, according to data from state-run institute SSI. The Nordic country is one of the most advanced in terms of sequencing in Europe, allowing it to detect more cases and more quickly, without this meaning that the contagion is stronger there than elsewhere.

2:45 p.m. Variant Omicron: a negative test required to travel to the United Kingdom

The British government has announced that a negative test before departure will be compulsory from Tuesday for travelers to the United Kingdom. From Tuesday at 4 a.m., “anyone aged 12 and over wishing to travel to the United Kingdom must present a negative test” carried out maximum 48 hours before departure “in order to slow down the importation of the new variant” Omicron, specified the executive in a statement on Saturday evening. Travelers arriving in the UK must already take a PCR test no later than two days after arrival, and self-isolate until the results.

2 p.m. First case of the Omicron variant in Senegal

Senegal has detected the first case of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in a traveler who was going to leave the country after taking part in an international meeting in Dakar, announced a research institute. This first case was detected on Friday in a 58-year-old man who arrived in Senegal on November 22 on a flight from a country in the sub-region, according to a press release published on Saturday evening by the Institute for Health Research, epidemiological surveillance and training (Iressef). The man had been vaccinated on April 13 with AstraZeneca and June 25 with Pfizer, the institute said.

1 p.m. "The Omicron variant will have no impact on growth", assures the Minister of the Economy

Guest of the Grand rendez-Vous Europe 1/Cnews/Les Echos this Sunday, Bruno Le Maire assured that “The Omicron variant will have no impact on growth”. If the return of closures is not on the agenda this Sunday, sectors such as tourism and events are seeing cancellations. The minister ruled out a return to the "whatever the cost" policy, a generalized support measure for businesses: "We came out (in August, editor's note) of the "whatever the cost", it is not not to come back to it”. And to continue: "Whatever happens rather than whatever it costs, we will not let anyone down". The Minister of the Economy said that the government will study “on a case-by-case, tailor-made basis” the effects of the 5th epidemic wave on businesses.

11:45 a.m. Austria: tens of thousands of demonstrators against the measures taken against Covid-19

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated on Saturday in Austria for the third consecutive weekend against government measures to fight the coronavirus, including vaccination which will be compulsory from February, police said. Several arrests have been made for disturbing public order, according to the police who have counted more than 40,000 demonstrators in Vienna, after several rallies in the capital.

11 a.m. No New Year's Eve parties in Rio de Janeiro

The city of Rio de Janeiro will not celebrate the New Year with the usual festivities due to the arrival in Brazil of the new Omicron variant, announce the municipal authorities. This decision raises fears of a possible cancellation of the famous carnival, which should take place from February 25 to March 1, already canceled last year.

10:38 a.m. A first case of Omicron variant detected in Chile

Chile has announced the first case of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus on its territory, in a traveler who arrived from Ghana at the end of November. "This foreigner, residing in Chile, entered the country with a negative PCR test," the Valparaiso regional health ministry said in a statement. But the mandatory additional test upon arrival at the airport gave a positive result.

9:16 a.m. Houdain: Covid-19 screening Monday for all primary school students, Tuesday for all residents

In Houdain near Béthune, students at the Paul-Langevin school, which will be closed all next week following the discovery of fifteen positive Covid cases, will be tested on Monday. A screening campaign for all residents of the town is scheduled for Tuesday.

9 a.m. 16 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant identified in France

According to a latest report from the Ministry of Health on Saturday evening, 16 cases of the Omicron variant (whose dangerousness is still unknown) were detected in France. “These cases are closely monitored by the health authorities to ensure contact-tracing actions and indicate prevention messages with the aim of preserving the health of the population”, specifies the ministry.